Graphically designed protective system for sports equipment

ABSTRACT

A graphically-designed protective system for customizing and protecting sports equipment including a customized vinyl decal having a front and back side, a first and second end, an adhesive layer on the back side, and a polymer heat-shrinkable protective tubing. In an alternative embodiment, the graphically-designed protective system contains a customized vinyl decal having a front and back side, a first and second end, an adhesive layer on the back side, and a protective layer of polymer material on the front side. Suitably sized, the system provides customized sports equipment with additional protection from damage for the equipment. In addition to protection and customization, the system provides the user with increased control in sporting events.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 60/673,161, filed Apr. 20, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of grips or handles forsports equipment having a gripping end, such as hockey sticks, lacrossesticks, golf clubs and tennis rackets. In particular, the presentinvention relates to the means for incorporating a printed media ordesign element into grips for sporting equipment such as hockey sticksand lacrosse sticks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many participants in athletic events desire to customize the tools oftheir sports by applying decals and other informative means, such asinscribing their name or adding a particular design. The presentinvention meets this need by allowing users to customize their sportsequipment with unique graphics that not only allows the user topersonalize the equipment, but also provides improved grip of theequipment, thus increasing control of the sports equipment andsubsequently the object in play. Moreover, the present invention meetsthe need of sports teams desiring to unify the team by allowing users tocustomize their sports equipment to contain the team's logo, mascot,color, and/or design.

There is a need in the local sporting clubs, schools, private sportingorganizations, and major sporting franchises for an effective yet easyto use graphically-designed protective system that allows users tocustomize their equipment. Other inventions and patented items requireusers to take apart their equipment and add decorative label, thusforcing the user to spend more time preparing the equipment thanactually using it. Still other inventions and patented items requirespecial manufacturing processes to allow users to customize theirequipment. The present invention overcomes these disabilities byproviding the user a simple, effective, and decorative product that anyuser can apply without difficulty.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the previous product disadvantages byoffering the user/athletic participant a customized, specialized,easy-to-use product.

A preferred embodiment of the invention includes a customized graphicdesigned sports equipment protection system with two components. Thefirst component includes a customized graphical design that is createdby a graphic artist and is then printed onto a vinyl, adhesive-backedmaterial (decal). The second component is a heat-shrinkable polymer tubethat is slipped over the piece of sporting equipment on top of thevinyl, adhesive-backed first component that has been attached to thepiece of sporting equipment. Once the heat-shrinkable polymer tube is inplace, it is reduced in size to a customized fit by using anycommercially available hand-held hair dryer.

Another embodiment of the invention includes a customized graphicaldesign that is created by a graphic artist and is then printed onto avinyl, adhesive-backed material (“decal”). The decal also contains aprotective layer of polymer material on the top portion of the decal,thus providing the decal with the desired protection. The decal is thenapplied to the user's equipment.

Accordingly, several objectives and advantages of the invention are toprovide an easily customizable, easy-to-use, and easy to apply productthat allows the user to customize his/her equipment, protects theequipment from normal wear and tear, and provides a better grippingsurface on the equipment, thus providing the user better control.Further objectives and advantages will become apparent from a study ofthe description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of the adhesive-backed graphicallydesigned and printed vinyl material as it would be applied to a hockeystick;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the polymer tube as it would be appliedto a piece of sporting equipment, in this instance a hockey stick;

FIG. 3 is a perspective drawing of the adhesive backed graphicallydesigned and printed vinyl material as it would be applied to a lacrossestick;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the polymer tube as it would be appliedto a piece of sporting equipment, in this instance a lacrosse stick.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views of the Graphically-designedadhesive-backed vinyl material (decal) with a protective layer ofpolymer material

DRAWINGS—REFERENCE NUMERALS

10 Graphically-designed adhesive-backed vinyl material (decal)

12 Heat-shrinkable polymer tubing

14 Graphically-designed adhesive-backed vinyl material (decal)

16 Heat-shrinkable polymer tubing

18 Front side

20 Adhesive layer

22 Back side

24 Front side.

26 Protective layer of polymer material

28 Adhesive layer

30 Back side

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, there is shown a preferredembodiment of a graphically designed protective system for sportsequipment generally shown at 10 constructed in accordance with thepresent invention. Preferably, the present invention includes agraphically-designed adhesive-backed vinyl material (decal) 10 having afront side 18 and back side 22 and at least a pair of ends. Preferably,a back side 22 is affixed to the to the sports equipment by use of anadhesive layer 20. A heat-shrinkable polymer tubing 12 having aninterior void extending the length of the tube and having at least twoends with similar openings is shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.

Turning now to FIG. 6, there is shown an alternative embodiment of thegraphically designed protective system for sports equipment invention.As discussed above, the alternative embodiment of the invention does notinclude a heat-shrinkable polymer tubing 12 having an interior voidextending the length of the tube and having at least two ends withsimilar openings. Rather, the alternative embodiment includes aprotective layer of polymer material 26 pre-manufactured onto thegraphically designed protective system for sports equipment having afront side 24 and back side 30 and at least a pair of ends, but stillproviding improved grip, control, and protection for the user.

The method of using the graphically designed protective system forsports equipment 10 is as follows. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3 the userfirst positions the back side 22 of the graphically designed protectivesystem against a piece of sports equipment such as a hockey stick orlacrosse stick, so the graphically designed protective system fits overthe portion of the sports equipment where the user desires it to beplaced. Next, the user peels off the back side 22 of the graphicallydesigned protective system revealing an adhesive layer 20. The user thenapplies the graphically designed protective system by pressing it ontothe piece of sports equipment such that the adhesive layer makes contactwith the equipment. The user then takes the heat-shrinkable polymertubing 12 and slides it over the piece of equipment, such that it coversthe top layer 18 of the graphically designed protective system. The userthen heats the heat-shrinkable polymer tubing 12 with a commerciallyavailable hand-held hair dryer to the point where the tube will shrinkonto the sports equipment. A method for applying the alternativeembodiment consists of the user positioning the back side 30 of thegraphically designed protective system against a piece of sportsequipment such as a hockey stick or lacrosse stick, so the graphicallydesigned protective system fits over the portion of the sports equipmentwhere the user desires it to be placed. Next, the user peels off theback side 30 of the graphically designed protective system revealing anadhesive layer 28. The user then applies the graphically designedprotective system by pressing it onto the piece of sports equipment suchthat the adhesive layer makes contact with the equipment.

Having thus described the present invention, various modifications andimprovements will become apparent to those having skill in the art thatdo not depart from the scope of the present invention.

1. A graphically-designed protective system for customizing andprotecting sports equipment, comprising: (a) a decal with a front sideand back side and at least a pair of ends; and (b) protective tubing. 2.The graphically-designed protective system of claim 1 wherein said decalis comprised of vinyl material.
 3. The graphically-designed protectivesystem of claim 1 or 2, further including an adhesive layer on the backside of said decal.
 4. The graphically-designed protective system ofclaim 1, wherein said protective tubing is comprised of a polymerheat-shrinkable material.
 5. The compression device of claims 1 or 4,wherein said protective tubing has an interior void extending the lengthof the rod.
 6. The compression device of claims 1 or 4, wherein saidprotective tubing has at least two ends.
 7. A graphically-designedprotective system for customizing and protecting sports equipment,comprising: (a) a decal with a front side and back side and at least apair of ends.
 8. The graphically-designed protective system of claim 7wherein said decal is comprised of vinyl material.
 9. Thegraphically-designed protective system of claim 7 or 8, furtherincluding an adhesive layer on the back side of said decal.
 10. Thegraphically-designed protective system of claim 7, 8, or 9 wherein saidfront side contains a layer of protective material comprised of polymer.11. A method for using a graphically-designed protective system forcustomizing and protecting sports equipment, comprising the steps of:(a) positioning the back side of said graphically-designed protectivesystem against a piece of sports equipment; (b) peeling off the backside of the graphically designed protective system revealing an adhesivelayer; (c) applying the graphically designed protective system bypressing it onto the piece of sports equipment such that the adhesivelayer makes contact with the equipment; (d) sliding the heat-shrinkablepolymer tubing over the piece of sports equipment, such that it coversthe front side of the graphically designed protective system; and (e)heating the heat-shrinkable polymer tubing with a commercially availablehand-held hair dryer to the point where the tube will shrink onto thesports equipment.
 12. Another method for using a graphically-designedprotective system for customizing and protecting sports equipment,comprising the steps of: (a) positioning the back side of saidgraphically-designed protective system against a piece of sportsequipment; (b) peeling off the back side of the graphically designedprotective system revealing an adhesive layer; and (c) applying thegraphically designed protective system by pressing it onto the piece ofsports equipment such that the adhesive layer makes contact with theequipment.